Game rack



Nov; 3, 1925' s. cowl-:N

' GAME: RACK File@ June 11,1924

l -ll -zlllllu figa ORIGINAL SCQRE INVENToR. 55u/w. c Y Cb we v A TT RNE vPatented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES STANLEY COWEN, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GAME RACK.

Appneation filed inne 11, 1924. serial No. 719,316.

To all 'wko/m. 'it may concer/n.:

Be it known that I, STANLEY COWEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the vcity and county of San Francisco,

State -of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object a rack to be employed in the playing of the game of Mah jongg -or the like, whereby the handling and display of the tiles employed in the game islfacilitated. 1

Other objects will appear from the drawings and specifications which follow:

These objects I attain byforming my rack so that it will hold the tiles to 'the best advantage for theyplayer and at the same time will adequately display exposed tiles to the other players while enabling the player employing the rack to most quickly and satisfactorily arrange and 'operate his tiles during the play.

By referring to the accompanying drawings my invention will be made clear.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my rack.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1 on the line II-II thereof. A

Fig. 3 is a front view of the rack of Fi 1.

'Ihroughout the figures similar numerals referto identical parts. An inclined or back member is indicated by the numeral 1, having a concave base 2 and a bottom ledge 3 the latter adapted to l5 hold the tiles, one of which is indicated by dotted lines at 4, in a pos-ition facing the player. y l

A horizontal ledge 5 for receiving displayed tiles not shown but well known is =0 arranged back of the member 1 and across one end of the rack is fitted a base 10 carrying a plurality of holders, 6, 7, 8 and 9 for receiving counters employed during the play and to register the progress of the game 5 and condition therein of the respective player. The base 10 is stuck up at 11 and forms one end of the rack with projecting portions at 12, 13, 14, respectively forming end stops 0 for the tiles ranged in the'several positions as 4, or on the ledge 5 or formation as shown atv 15. A

Hinged to the 11p-turned portion 14 of the base 10 is thev strut 16 5 swung from the full line position outward stacked in wall l which may be' las to the dotted position as shown in Fig.

wall of.

1 for the purpose" of shifting the built tiles outward to an angular position 1n front of the player without moving'the body portion of the rack. Four of the tiles constituting such wall portion are indicated at 15 before they have been moved out, and

vStrut in collapsed position against the body portion of the rack when not in use'. This strut I prefer to form of metal with a turned over edge, or other truss section as shown at 20, thus giving it rigidity and stiffness, while occupying comparatively little thickness or space in the body of the rack, which is preferably grooved to receive the same.

It will now be observed that the concave surface 2 is out of contact with the tiles 4 and the directions for playing the game or counting instructions, rules or the like mayv be mounted vwithin this concave portion without damaging the printed surface there- .on when the tiles are in use. When the hand has been playedand the counting is being done the said score is in plain sight of the player without moving the rack. After the score has been computed the payment is effected by the counters upon the holding means 6, 7, 8 or 9 and which counters are added to or taken from the players stock.

At the beginning of the play and building the wall as with the tiles 15, the member 16 is retained in collapsed position as shownin the full line position of Figs. 1 and 2.

The tiles are lirst drawn and placed upon the inclined member l and ledge 3 and as the game progresses, exposed tiles are placed on the ledge 5. Y

In each instance the tiles are lined up against the end members, 12, 13, 14 frespectively.l ,f/

When the -wall portion in front of the player is to be drawn from, he releases the holding means 19 and shifts the strut 16) with the corresponding portion of the wall into the dotted position of Fig. 1, the strut 16:being then brought back and clamped into the full line position. In this way lthe wallA is shifted without displacing the individual tiles thereon, and Without disclosing the tiles inthe players 'hand by moving the body portion of his rack. Q

At 21 l have shown a printed strip characteristic of the counting score as fixed on the concave surface 2.

I claim: l

1. 1n a game rack, an inclined member having a concave front surface in combination'with a foot piece therebelovv, said member .and foot piece adapted to support a Series of tiles out of contact with said concave surface and a substantially horizontal ledge adjacent said member and a plurality of'counter holders mounted on a metallic base at one end of said member said base vstruck up forming end stops for tiles carried on said member and on said ledge.

2. A game rack as set forth in claim 1 and a strut coextensive with said ledge and hinged to said struck up base.

3. A' game lrack as set forth in claim 1 nwaevs and a strut coextensive with said ledge and hinged to said struck up base and holding means at the other end of said strut to hold the strut in collapsed position.

4.1m combination with a game rack a counting means comprising a plurality of holders adapted to carry selected counters, said holders carried 0n a base forming an end member against which the rack surfaces abut and forming stops for tiles carried on said rack.

5. In combination with a game rack a counting means comprising a plurality oi 3 holders adapted to carry selected counters, said holders carried o n a base forming an end member against which the rack surfaces abutl and forming stops for tiles carried on said rack, and a strut coextensive with 4( said rack and hinged to said member and having'holding means to retain said strut collapsed with said rack when not in use.

STANLEY vCUWEN. 

